Acetylene-gas apparatus



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' WLAQ-RUHE & H S. BURBANK. AGETYLBNE GAS APPARATUS.

No. 600,177 Patented Mar. 8-, 1898.

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W. A. RUHE 82; H. S. BURBANK.

'AGBTYLENE GAS APPARATUS.

Patented Mar.'8, 1898'.

(No Model.)- 3 Sheet She-t 3.

W. A. RUHE sun. s. BURBANK. AQBTYLENE GAS APPARATUS.

No. 600,177 Patented Mar. 8, 1898.

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U TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER A. RUHE AND HENRY S. BURBANK, OF'PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ACETYLENE-GAS APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,17 7, dated March 8, 1898. Application filed April 5, 1897. Serial-No. 630,714- (No model.)

sylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention has relation to apparatus'for generating and supplying what is known as acetylene gas for utilization.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a comparatively simple, durable, and

efiicient apparatus for generating and storing acetylene gas and for supplying the same for iiluminating and other purposes.

Our invention, stated in generalterms,consists of an apparatus for generating and supplying acetylene gas constructed and arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature and general features of ourin vention will be more fully understood from.

the following description, taken .in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof, in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevatiohal View of a plant embodying the features of our invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in elevation and partly.

in section, of the water-supply, with its connections to a retort, embodying certain fea tures of our invention. Fig. 4 is a top or plan-- view of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a side elevational view looking to the left in Fig. 1, showing the device connected with the retort and water-supply and with the receiver or gasome ter for controlling the cut off of the water-s upply and thereby the flow of gas when the receiver or gasometer'contains its full quota of gas distributing or discharging therefrom. Fig. 6 is an end View, partly in section, of said device. Fig. 7 is a top or plan view of the valve connections from the retorts, with the watersupply, showing thepipe connections to the re ceiver or gasometer and the means for cutting off manually the flow of the gas from each retort, as well as'the flow of water into each of them. Fig. 8 is aview, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the valve connection of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a safety device for preventing the opening of one of the retorts while the other is generating gas, and Figs. 10 and 11 represent views in plan and section of the lever for alternately. cutting out the retorts, as well as the flow of gas to the receiver or gasometer.

Referring to the drawings, A is the receiver or gasometer, provided with a dome a. and an oiftake 11', having connected with the same a pressure preferred construction.

a is a bracket secured to the roof of the dome aand provided with a bearing a,through which extends a weighted rod a To the side of the gasometer A is provided a similar bracket a. with a bearing a B is an electric indicating or signaling device provided with contacts b and 1), respectively connected with the gasometer A and the dome a thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This device B is provided with wires 12 and 13 from a battery 14, in which circuit is included a buzzer, bell, or other sounding device b whereby when the gas in the gasometer or receiver A has become low or exhausted the two contacts will be brought into a position to establish the circuit from the battery Li, and thereby to ring the hell or buzzer b to indicate that the gas supply is in fact exhausted or that the amount of gas in the receiver is becoming low or that the water of an elevated tank is not supplyingthe retort to aid with the vcarbid or acetylid.

in producing gas for being supplied to the gasometer A for use therefrom.

C is an elevated water-supply consisting of a tank provided witha tube 0, extending downward therefrom into a standard or base 0. Connected therewith is a nipple 0 provided with an elbow a with which is connected a vertical pipe 0, provided with a valve 0 adapted to be operated so as to out 01f the water-supply to the retort when required. This pipe of, by means of a U-shaped pipe connection 0, extends into the upper part of the retortsD and D. Each of the retorts is pro:

vided therein with a channel (Z, extending into the body of each cap, or cover (Z of the retorts. Each cap or cover is provided with a pipe or tube (i communicating with the channel (Z and set, preferably, at a downwardly-project gage or register a of any I ing angle extending to about the center in the upper part of the retort, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, for supplying water from the top of the retort onto the acetylid or carbid d mounted in the retort-for example, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be seen from said Fig. 3 that the pipes c and o with thebase a, provide the means whereby a water seal may be established between the elevated tank and the retorts-D and D to prevent undue waste or dissipation of the gas in the retort in use, because the Weight and quantity of water always maintained in the said pipes and base will be sufficient to prevent the gas in the retort from escaping through the water, so that the sup-.

ply' of generated gas will thereby be only through the pipe connections with the gasometer A. The removable caps or covers 01 of the retorts are suitably gasketed at d to the same and secured to position thereon by means of bolts (1 and nuts (I and also by means of spanning-clamps (2 provided with jambolts (1 with key-heads (1 for example, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In the bottom of each retort is provided an outlet (1, hav

ing a stop-cock (Z whereby the interior of the retort may be cleaned out, as required.

01 is a gas-pipe connecting the retort D with the retort D and having an interposed plugvalve (1 (Z is the downward right-angular extension of said gas-pipe at the bottom provided with a stop or blow-off cock dfi'and the angular extension of said pipe is secured into the lower portion of the gasometer A, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The valve 0 in the water-supply pipe to theretort D or D has connected therewith a lever or arnya embracing the vertical rod a and sliding in the guides or bearings a and a 'con nected with and extending from the dome 01 and gasometer A. Adjustably mounted on the rod a? is a sleeve or collar e, carrying one end'of' a spiral spring 6 the other end of which is connected with the arm or lever a Mounted on the vertical pipe 0 is an adjustable collar e provided with a slanting or de-' pending finger e adapted to limit the range of upward movement of the arm or rod (0 as the dome a rises by the flow of gas from one of the retorts D or D into the gasometer A prior to the discharge of the same from the latter through the pipe a, under regulation for utilization as an illuminant or for other analogous purposes. The valve (1 of. the

pipe (1, connecting the retort D with the retort D, is inclosed in a housing c1 and extending through this housing is a rodd", carrying a cam (1 To the upper end of this rod d is secured a lever (1 the free end of which engages the key d of the jam-bolt d". The cam (1 normally rests against a head or stripfiformed,preferably,integral with a connecting-rod F, the opposite end of which connecting-rod engages a plug-valve g, mounted in a housing g, and which valve is connected with the U-shaped water-pipe connection 0.

The connecting-rod F at the respective ends of the same, engaging the plug-valves d and g, is operated by a lever h, fitted to said rod F and carrying a disk or collar h. The lever h is adapted to'be released from the connecting-rod F through either the opening 9 or'g of the housing g, when in the position illustrated in Figs. 4, 7, 8, or 11, to permit of the free flow of fluid to one or the other of the retorts D or D; but when the lever h is turned but ninety degrees or into a vertical position the disk or collar h, mounted thereon, will prevent the removal of the lever h through the slit 9 in the housing 9, being an intermediate position of the same, and While in such position the water-supply to both of the retorts, as well as the gas-supply from said retorts, will be cut off to the gasometer A. In. this intermediate position of the lever h the head f. of the connecting-rod F occupies the position indicated by the dot-ted lines in Fig. 9, in which position the head f is clear of the cam (1 connected with the lever d. In this position it will be readily understood that the cam (1 and lever (1 may be shifted or turned to permit of the removal of the cap or cover of the retort, as illustrated in Fig. 4, for refilling or any otherrequired purpose. The safety attachment,comprising the head or strip f, cam 01 and lever (1 connected with the housing of the valve d, is provided for the purpose of enabling the inexperienced or others to readily determine which cap or cover of the retorts is to be removed for filling, due

to the exhausting of the matter adapted to generate gas therein, because said lever (1,

while the particular retortis in use, will be connected with the other retort not in use'or containing matter sufficient upon the supply of water to the same to permit of the generation of gas therein for supplying to the depleted gasometer A. WVhen the lever his in its normal position and is turned to an opposite position-say about one hundred and eighty degrees-the lever (Z will be locked in such position as is illustrated in Fight) by the cam d engaging the head or strip f of the connecting-rod F, and thereby it will be impossible to operate the said lever cl, and thus the cap or cover of the retort with which the said lever is connected cannot be removed until the lever is released.

The operation of the apparatus hereinbefore described is as follows: With the members of the apparatus as indicated in full and dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 the retort D is in use making gas and supplying to the gasometer A, and the gas is being withdrawn from the gasometer through the offtake or pipe a, under due regulation of the pressure gage or register a, for utilization. If the gassupply, as well as the water-supply, is to be cut oif, the lever h is turned so as to assume a vertical position of about ninety degrees to that which it occupies in Fig. 4; also, when the retort D ceases to generate gas; but any gas remaining in a. retort will be supplied to the gasometer until withdrawn in sufiicient quantity to cause the contacts I) and b to establish the battery-circuit 12 and 13 with the buzzer b or other signaling the operative that the supply of gas in the gasometer is becoming low or is being exhausting, when by turning the lever (Z to. a position opposite to that which itoccupies in Fig. 4 the retort D may be placed in condition for generating gas, so as to supply the gasometer therewith, and the other retort D will then be cut off both from the water-supply-O and the gasometer A. By removing then the clamp (i and bolt'and nut from the cap or cover of the same it may be refilled and placed in a condition upon the depletion of the retort D of the matter capable with water of makinggas of being brought into use by shifting the lever d into a position opposite to that which it occupies in Fig 4.

Among the advantageous features of our invention may be mentioned that the arrangement of the apparatus is such as that gas in the retorts may be safely and reliably made and supplied to the gasometer for use especiall y in house consumption,with the location of suchaplant in the cellar of the house and used without fear by the exercise of reasonable care of any explosions or accidents arising therefrom, because of the ability by the arrangement of the membersof the apparatus when the gasometer contains substantially its fully quota of both elements adapted to generate the gas, and also is the arrangement of the apparatus such as that when the supply'is low in the gasorneter to automatically signal to the operative what is necessary tiously replenish the supply and with perfect safety, even if the apparatus is handled by an inexperienced person, and, furthermore, without waste or dissipation of the gas due to the water seal established between the Water-supply and the retorts and the inability to refill a retort by removing the cap or cover until the particular retort of the series is en-' tirely'cut off from the water-supply and gasometer and the retort generating the gas and supplying the same to the gasometer.

It will be manifestly obvious to those skilled in the art to which our invention appertains that, as to details, modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, and hence we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precise construction and arrangement of all the parts as hereinbefore described and illus: trated; but,

device to apprise i gas to automatically cut oif to be done to expedi:

Having thus described the nature and ohi jects of our invention, what we claim as new,

and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a retort wherein a substance to be reduced is contained, a movable cap secured to the top of said retort, a channel formed in said cap and having a pipe leading therefrom to the interior of said retort, achannelformed in the retort immediately below the channel in said cap, a Water-reservoir elevated above the top of sai'd retort, a hollow standard in communication with and supporting said reservoir, and a pipe connection leading from the base of said standard to the channel in the body of said retort, whereby when the cap of the retort is turned the same is adapted to-es-tablish. or cut ofi communication with said channels,.substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a retort or series of retorts, a pipe supplying said retort or retorts with water, a valve interposed in said pipe, a lever or arm adapted to operate said valve, a vertical rod embraced by the free end of said lever,'a spring'connecting the free end of said lever with said arm, a stop located onsaid rod and adapted to depress the lever against the tension' of said spring, a stop located on said water-pipe to limit the upward motion of said lever, and a gasometer having a movable dome adapted to actuate said vertical rod, sub-i stantially as and for the purposes described.

3. An acetylenegas apparatus, comprising a gasom-eter, retorts connected with each other by a pipe and plug-valve connections, a water-supply connected with said retorts by pipe and valve connections and said valves inclosed in housings and connected with each other bya rod and adapted to be operated in unison by a lever to cut off the water-supply from one retort to the other and the gas therefrom to the gasometer, a lever adapted to acsaid valves to prevent removal of a cap or cover of one of said retorts while in use and until the retort is out out as well as the water-supply thereto, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our signaturesin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVALTER A. RUHE.

HENRY S. BURBANK. Witnesses:

J. WALTER DOUGLASS, THOMAS M. SMITH.

"tuate a cam against the housing of one of 

